iPad mini reportedly in mass production for introduction this month

Apple's Asian suppliers are said to be gearing up.

Whether or not you think a smaller version of the iPad makes sense, it appears as if the rumored device is on the verge of making its public debut. A new report from the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday cited sources claiming Apple's Asian suppliers have already begun mass production of the so-called "iPad mini," bolstering rumors that Apple will introduce the device as part of a media event later this month.

The WSJ reiterates details about the device, such as its 7.85-inch screen size, that have previously been reported. The device is expected to have a "lower resolution" than the third-generation iPad introduced in March of 2012, meaning that it's likely it won't have a "retina" class display. Such a decision may disappoint potential iPad mini buyers, but it's probably part of an overall strategy to reduce costs. Apple likely wants to offer the iPad mini as a bargain alternative to the larger iPad andcompete with other 7-inch tablets already on the market.

Rumors swirled earlier this week that Apple had fingered October 17 as the date for its iPad mini unveiling, though the company has not yet announced a date publicly. Assuming that does end up being the date, however, we'll likely hear about it early next week when invitations are sent out.

71 Reader Comments

I'm curious to see if this does come about. I can see how this would appeal to people who don't like the size and weight of the current iPads. Very curious to see what price point it comes out at - would they stop selling the iPad 2 to make room for this at $400, or would they keep the 2 and sell this for a little less?

If they keep the same resolution as the 2 with a smaller screen, that would be cool. I don't see them introducing yet another screen resolution, making it that much more difficult for developers to write apps for the various ones out there now.

I'm curious to see if this does come about. I can see how this would appeal to people who don't like the size and weight of the current iPads. Very curious to see what price point it comes out at - would they stop selling the iPad 2 to make room for this at $400, or would they keep the 2 and sell this for a little less?

If they keep the same resolution as the 2 with a smaller screen, that would be cool. I don't see them introducing yet another screen resolution, making it that much more difficult for developers to write apps for the various ones out there now.

My guess is they'll sell the small iPad and the iPad2 concurrently, but if the small one takes off they'll drop the iPad2.

I don't really. 7" Tablets are basically tablet netbooks. Of course Apple can sell this by the million but that doesn't mean it should. Unless they have something new up their sleeves this feels like a grab for sales - something Apple has usually avoided.

I'm curious to see if this does come about. I can see how this would appeal to people who don't like the size and weight of the current iPads. Very curious to see what price point it comes out at - would they stop selling the iPad 2 to make room for this at $400, or would they keep the 2 and sell this for a little less?

If they keep the same resolution as the 2 with a smaller screen, that would be cool. I don't see them introducing yet another screen resolution, making it that much more difficult for developers to write apps for the various ones out there now.

I'd bet on the iPad mini having similar internals to the iPad 2 in a smaller frame, with Apple discontinuing the iPad 2.

I'm curious to see if this does come about. I can see how this would appeal to people who don't like the size and weight of the current iPads. Very curious to see what price point it comes out at - would they stop selling the iPad 2 to make room for this at $400, or would they keep the 2 and sell this for a little less?

If they keep the same resolution as the 2 with a smaller screen, that would be cool. I don't see them introducing yet another screen resolution, making it that much more difficult for developers to write apps for the various ones out there now.

My guess is they'll sell the small iPad and the iPad2 concurrently, but if the small one takes off they'll drop the iPad2.

Might be their plan on doing this anyway; if/when the next full-size iPad gets released, the current iPad would be discounted and the 2 would be dropped, leaving the Mini/Air/Whatever to take its place.

I'm curious to see if this does come about. I can see how this would appeal to people who don't like the size and weight of the current iPads. Very curious to see what price point it comes out at - would they stop selling the iPad 2 to make room for this at $400, or would they keep the 2 and sell this for a little less?

If they keep the same resolution as the 2 with a smaller screen, that would be cool. I don't see them introducing yet another screen resolution, making it that much more difficult for developers to write apps for the various ones out there now.

I'd bet on the iPad mini having similar internals to the iPad 2 in a smaller frame, with Apple discontinuing the iPad 2.

It would make sense for it to contain the iPad 2 equivalent of the processor and other chips, especially if the innards have been reduced in size. The smaller screen would take less battery power (hey, I know I'm just guessing, but makes sense) especially if they didn't try to cram in more pixels than the iPad 2 has.

Why wouldn't they have announced this at their event last month? We ended up ordering one of the new ipod touches, it might have been this device if they'd announced it sooner.

If this thing exists, perhaps they didn't want to have it get lost in the crowd with all of the other announcements last month? I can also see it being announced in conjunction with a refresh of the iMac line, possibly with the Pro. Then again, Tim Cook responded to that one query about the Pro, saying to stay tuned until 2013, when they were going to have something "exciting" to come out.

My kids will be getting them. We constantly lose iPods so this one will be perfect.

Then personally I'd stop buying them expensive things until they learn to look after them. I'd go mental if my daughter lost something that expensive in the future (not at the moment, she's ten months old).

I think the problem Apple may be worried about is how much of a tank their iPad feels like when people try out a Nexus 7 right beside it in their local electronics store. That's certainly how I feel and I've been on the fence about buying an iPad for a while. Add to that the exorbitant premium that one has to pay simply because one doesn't want an Android device, but one does want a (small) tablet. The 7" could just use the same resolution of the iPad 2, since it's already coded for. Drop the size and it's close to a retina display.

Why wouldn't they have announced this at their event last month? We ended up ordering one of the new ipod touches, it might have been this device if they'd announced it sooner.

If this thing exists, perhaps they didn't want to have it get lost in the crowd with all of the other announcements last month? I can also see it being announced in conjunction with a refresh of the iMac line, possibly with the Pro. Then again, Tim Cook responded to that one query about the Pro, saying to stay tuned until 2013, when they were going to have something "exciting" to come out.

That's the thing though - last month's event was about iOS and iOS devices. Seems like it would have been in line with what they were presenting. They knew the iphone5 would be big news, and they could have used that to buoy both the status of the touch5 and the pad7. Now they'll have a short event for a single device, and since there's nothing else except "yep, it's a 7" ipad", the event might be a dud. It just doesn't seem like Apple's style.

That's my thought. I know people have been clamoring for a smaller iPad but I want a bigger one. Anyway I'm curious to the price point for these. Before the new iPod Touch was announced I figured the iPad Mini or whatever it's called would come in at $299 or something but I don't see that happening now but there isn't much leeway between the iPod Touch and the iPad 2.

That's my thought. I know people have been clamoring for a smaller iPad but I want a bigger one. Anyway I'm curious to the price point for these. Before the new iPod Touch was announced I figured the iPad Mini or whatever it's called would come in at $299 or something but I don't see that happening now but there isn't much leeway between the iPod Touch and the iPad 2.

Price point is definitely the issue with only a $100 spread between the new Touch at $299 and Gen2 iPad at $399.

Price point is definitely the issue with only a $100 spread between the new Touch at $299 and Gen2 iPad at $399.

Put me in the betting pool at $349 for the 7" iPad Mini.

Remember that the first iPhone had its price dropped not long after introduction. While that is hardly a clean way to assure customers of price stability, it's not inconceivable that Apple might do so again, or possibly bump up the iPod Touch specs. (Seems clumsy, nonetheless, given that Apple knows their own internal roadmap and had to see this coming.)

Alternately, they can play with other 'subsidies' (new annual service fees for something thrown in?) or even offer a rebate for early iPod Touch buyers.

In this household here is an iPad v1 an iPad v3 a Galaxy Tab 10.1, the original Galaxy Tab 7" and a Nexus 7, and truthfully I go for the Nexus 99℅ of the time. It's just an awesome form factor, as well as being a really well made fast slick device. And it was by far the cheapest too :-) . If Apple can get the weight, performance and price of the "mini" down to similar levels they should have a winner,

Price point is definitely the issue with only a $100 spread between the new Touch at $299 and Gen2 iPad at $399.

Put me in the betting pool at $349 for the 7" iPad Mini.

Remember that the first iPhone had its price dropped not long after introduction. While that is hardly a clean way to assure customers of price stability, it's not inconceivable that Apple might do so again, or possibly bump up the iPod Touch specs. (Seems clumsy, nonetheless, given that Apple knows their own internal roadmap and had to see this coming.)

Alternately, they can play with other 'subsidies' (new annual service fees for something thrown in?) or even offer a rebate for early iPod Touch buyers.

They aren't even shipping the new Touch yet, so I doubt that they will change the price/specs, and I find it hard to believe that they would raise the price of the iPad2.

The point about subsidies for the Touch is interesting, but the current iPhone subsidies are paid by Carriers, a relationship that does not exist with the Touch (having no phone capability).

Either way, adding a new mid-range model should chop the difference between price-points from the current $100; it will be interesting to see how it shakes out.

Why wouldn't they have announced this at their event last month? We ended up ordering one of the new ipod touches, it might have been this device if they'd announced it sooner.

Well, shoot. I guess you'll just have to buy both now. I hope Apple learns their lesson.

The real answer is that Apple doesn't pre-announce. They understand that seeing a really neat gadget, pulling out your credit card, and then finding out that it was just a tease is not an endearing or useful experience. Once your product is finally on shelves, customers don't recall back to your pre-announcement 6 months ago with warm memories. They just get a vague feeling that this product is old, and who wants old electronics?

I don't really. 7" Tablets are basically tablet netbooks. Of course Apple can sell this by the million but that doesn't mean it should. Unless they have something new up their sleeves this feels like a grab for sales - something Apple has usually avoided.

My kids will be getting them. We constantly lose iPods so this one will be perfect.

Just curious, how many ipods have your kids lost?

think he means temporarily, like a TV remote.

either that or he is Daddy Warbucks.

That's funny.

But that's exactly what I was thinking. I mean I know that Apple user's on average are wealthier, but loosing ipods constantly would be a kick in the nuts for anyone.

Long ago, I got a Gameboy for my 12th birthday. When I eventually broke it, my parents said I would have to replace it with my own money. I held on to that second one for the next 15 years before selling it at a garage sale. It was a good life lesson, IMO.

Long ago, I got a Gameboy for my 12th birthday. When I eventually broke it, my parents said I would have to replace it with my own money. I held on to that second one for the next 15 years before selling it at a garage sale. It was a good life lesson, IMO.

I remember no such deliberate lesson during childhood.

Just the practical one that inevitably repeats itself: when you break something, you don't have it anymore, and it's hard to get another. I am very careful with my things, and doubly careful with other people's things. Unsurprisingly, I still, every once in a while, break shit by accident or misplace a thing.

That's life. I hope people don't go "mental" on their children too often. :|

I'm mostly interested in seeing the price point(s) they pick for the iMini, if it really does come out. Being Apple guarantees a ton of initial sales, but I'll also be curious how the sales look six months later.

The point about subsidies for the Touch is interesting, but the current iPhone subsidies are paid by Carriers, a relationship that does not exist with the Touch (having no phone capability).

I was thinking more along the lines of a new, yet-announced service that could be bundled with the Touches to increase its value. Something like free iTunes Match for iPod Touch buyers, but iPad Mini buyers would have to pay for it. (That's just an example, not what I think will happen.)

So actually it might be more of a 'reverse subsidy'. The point is, games could be played with add-ons to justify the various cost points.